Bottle case



D. E. HARDIN Jan. 18, 1944.

BOTTLE CASE Filed Feb. 22, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 am fQ/Z/OM,

Patented Jan. 18, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOTTLE CASE Don E. Hardin, Chicago, Ill.

Application February 22, 1943, Serial No. 476,743

' 1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in bottle cases, adapted to hold bottles containing beverages in convenient form for storage or delivery.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a bottle case of the kind described, which is, preferably, molded from suitable plastic material, which will make a strong, light case, not liable to fracture, and which is relatively cheap to manufacture.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a novel means for securely holding the assembled parts from accidental separation.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention,

Fig. l is a plan view of a bottle case embodying one form of my invention, having a bottom separate from the wall member.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one form of the partition member.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the partition member shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an under view of the bottom member shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 7 is a reduced perspective view of the form of case shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional View of another form of my invention in which the bottom is integral with the walls of the body.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional View of another form of my invention in which the bottom is insertible edgewise into the wall portion of the case, the partition member being shown in side elevation.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line iii-48 of Fig. 9.

Similar characters of reference designate similar parts in the different views.

Referring to Figs. 1 to '7, the body of the bottle case is rectangular and comprises a wall member having end walls I and side Walls 2.-

Each end wall I is provided with hand holes 3, and at its lower edge with a transverse flange 4 extending inwardly.

5 designates a bottom member adapted to be disposed between the side and end walls, and

the flanges i, and having at its ends respectively two transverse flanges 6 adapted to rest upon the flanges 4 respectively, as shown in Figs. 1,

2 and 5. For drainage purposes, the bottom 5 is provided with slots 1 extending inwardly from each end. The side edges of the bottom 5 has middle projections 8, respectively adapted to contact with the inner sides of the side walls 2, as shown in Fig. 1, thus providing drainage openings 9 respectively next to the side walls 2.

A recticular partition member is provided with criss-cross or intersecting portions [0 from which respectively extend Wings II. The partition member i0 is adapted for insertion between the walls I and. 2 and to rest upon the bottom 5, the side walls 2 and end walls I having extending upwardly from the bottom 5, vertical inner grooves l2 adapted to respectively receive the wings H of the partition member.

For releasably locking the partition member H] in its operative position, shown in Figs. 2 and 5, some of the grooves in the side Walls 2 are provided each with one or more locking recesses 13 adapted to respectively receive therein locking projections I4 extending from the ends of the wings ll fitted in said recessed grooves l2 respectively.

The walls I and 2, bottom 5 and partition member I0|l are preferably molded from plastic material, which is hard and resilient, and the side walls 2 are sufiiciently thin to be expanded outwardly, so as to admit the projections id into the adjacent grooves 12, and into the locking recesses l3, the projections l4 being of such length as to require such expansion of the side walls 2. The material of said side walls is resilient so that, when the partition member is slid into its operative position, the side walls will retract, and the locking projections I will enter the locking recesses l3, and the partition member will then be held from accidental withdrawal from between the end and side walls, and the bottom member 5 will be held in its operative position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

The partition member with its intersecting portions Iii and the wings H, with the side and end walls of the case form vertical recesses for receiving bottles, which will rest upon the bottom 5.

In the modified form, shown in Fig. 8, the bottom 5' is molded integral with the end walls I and side walls 2. In other respects this form of my invention corresponds to that shown in Figs. 1 to '7.

In the form shown in Figs. 9 and 10 each end wall i is provided near its lower edge with a transverse groove 5 at the inner side of the Wall and extending through the side walls 2, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10. The bottom 5 is adapted to be slid edgewise at its flanges 6 into its operative position as shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

For locking the bottom 5 from withdrawal accidentally from the grooves I5, two of the wings II at each side of the partition member, and at each side of the adjacent projection 8 of the bottom 5, have downwardly extending projections l6 which enter respectively the adjacent openings 9 at the side edges of the bottom 5.

Other modifications of my invention, within the scope of the appended claim, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

edges of said walls, one of said walls having in one of its said grooves a locking recess, said bottom being insertible edgewise into said body upon said flanges, and a recticular partition member having side and end wings adapted for insertion respectively into said grooves in said walls, the interstices of said partition member forming vertical bottle receiving recesses, the wing of said partition member which is adapted for insertion into said recessed groove having an end locking projection of a length such that said wall having said recessed groove must be expanded to admit said lockin projection to enter said groove and said recess when said partition A bottle case of the kind described, comprising a box like body having side and end walls and a separate bottom, said end walls having 20 eachan inwardly extending transverse flange, the walls of said body having above said flanges vertical inner grooves extending to the upper member is inserted into said body, said wall being resilient and expansible to an extent to ad- 

